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Lib Dems want car insurance penalties toughened

Liberal Democrats have called for higher fines and loss of drivers licenses to be assessed on drivers who are caught driving without insurance. They complained that current fines for the violation are less than the amount of an insurance premium.

This statement came in reaction to the news that the number of London drivers stopped who could not provide proof of insurance had risen by 40 percent in the past three years, from 19,052 individuals in 2002 to 26,797 in 2004.

Across England and Wales, the incidence of drivers found to be without insurance was up by 20 percent in the same period. It could be, they said, that there are more people driving without insurance or, alternatively, that the police are getting better at catching those who donâ€™t have insurance.

From July, new regulations allow the police to confiscate the cars of those caught driving without insurance. The vehicles can be destroyed if proof of insurance is not provided within seven days.